SSINS No.: 6835
Accession No.:
8008220245
IN 80-39
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555
October 31, 1980
Information Notice No. 80-39: MALFUNCTION OF SOLENOID VALVES
MANUFACTURED BY VALCOR ENGINEERING
CORPORATION
PURPOSE:
The intent of this Information Notice is to alert holders of construction
permits and operating licenses for nuclear power plants of a potentially
generic problem involving the malfunctioning of certain solenoid valves
manufactured by the Valcor Engineering Corporation (Valcor). The solenoid
valves so involved are designated as Valcor Valve Model No. V52600-554-1.
Valcor has informed us that these valves have only been supplied to the
McGuire facility; however, since these valves were substituted for solenoid
valves of another manufacturer that did not meet the requirements of IE
Bulletin No. 79-01 and its amendments, licensees and holders of construction
permits should take into account the problem identified in this Information
Notice prior to making any similar substitution.
BACKGROUND:
By TWX dated June 27, 1980, Valcor submitted a preliminary 10 CFR Part 21
Report addressing the malfunctioning of Valcor solenoid valves at the
McGuire facility. The malfunctioning valves have been identified as Valcor
Valve Model No. 52600-554-1. This TWX was subsequently followed by a letter
dated July 3, 1980, transmitting a more detailed Part 21 Report entitled,
"Quality Assurance Report", a copy of which is attached hereto as Enclosure
No. 1.
In brief, the malfunction appears to be an intermittent type wherein the
valve fails to cycle from OPEN to CLOSE to OPEN immediately after a
sustained period of operation in the energized (OPEN) mode. Although the
valves are rated for "continuous operation", Valcor contends that the valves
were not designed to meet the operating conditions requiring the immediate
cycling from OPEN to CLOSE to OPEN after a sustained period of continuous
energization. A major source of the problem, therefore, may be a
misunderstanding of the term "continuous operation". By letter dated July
14, 1980 to Duke Power Company, Valcor transmitted its recommendations in
this matter entitled, "Outline Suggested Modification Procedures", a copy of
which is attached hereto as Enclosure No. 2.
Enclosures:
1. Quality Assurance Report
2. Outline - Suggested Modification
Procedures.